A report from the Rangers Review on 16 February claims that the Under-19s coach has left Auchenhowie for an academy role with the Saints.

Ross was in charge of the Under-19 side since Steven Smith was appointed to Danny Rohl‘s coaching staff with the senior team.

However, the Ibrox side will now have to find a replacement for Ross, who last managed the team against Hibernian on 10 February.

Who is set to replace Ross at Rangers?

Rangers Under-19s are set to take on Motherwell on Monday, 16 February, in the CAS Elite Cup, and the report claims that Malky Thomson will be in charge for that game.

It states that an interim appointment is set to be made in the coming days after Ross’ exit from his position.

The identity of a potential replacement has not been revealed yet.

Rangers need to pay more attention to their youth ranks

The under-19 side contains talents such as Callum Burnside, Aiden McCallion and Zebedee Lawson, who will be hoping to trouble the first-team in the coming years.

The Light Blues have been criticised in recent years, for the lack of academy youngsters who have made their way into the senior side.

Bailey Rice has struggled to make his way into the team under Philippe Clement and Rohl, despite being signed from Motherwell for £500,000.

Ross McCausland made 66 appearances for the Bears after coming through the academy, but he is currently out of favour, and on loan at Aris Limassol.

Findlay Curtis looked set to make the breakthrough, but he has featured just 24 times this season, and has been sent out on loan to Kilmarnock.

The Govan outfit need to ensure that there is a regular pathway for their academy starlets, otherwise they risk losing them, just like they have lost their coach.

There has not been enough attention on the youth ranks recently, but it looks as though the 49ers Enterprises group and Andrew Cavenagh are trying to solve the issue and put more focus on it.

That should only serve to benefit the club, as they can either make a new star or sell them off for hefty profit once they have played a few senior matches.

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